The 2018 Surabaya bombings were a series of terrorist attacks that initially occurred on 13 May 2018 in three churches in Surabaya, the second largest city in Indonesia. The explosions took place at Immaculate Saint Mary Catholic Church (Gereja Katolik Santa Maria Tak Bercela, SMTB) on Ngagel Madya Street, Indonesia Christian Church (Gereja Kristen Indonesia, GKI) on Diponegoro Street, and Surabaya Central Pentecost Church (Gereja Pantekosta Pusat Surabaya, GPPS) on Arjuno Street. The first explosion took place at the SMTB Church; the second and third explosions followed within an hour.

The fourth bombing occurred in an apartment complex in Sidoarjo, a regency located south of Surabaya. The explosion happened when the terrorists accidentally set off the bombs inside the room, killing three of them and injuring two children and a teenager. The fifth bombing occurred on the next day at the Surabaya Police Headquarters (Mapolrestabes Surabaya). Two perpetrators detonated their devices while they were being checked by the police at the entrance.

As of 15 May 2018, 27 people were killed including the suicide bombers. Around 50 others were injured; several were in critical condition. The attacks occurred just days after the standoff at Mako Brimob in Depok, in which five police officers were killed. The attacks are the deadliest terror attack in Indonesia since the 2002 Bali bombings.

The bombings were regarded as one of the most sophisticated and complex terror attacks in Indonesia. It was also the first of its kind in Indonesian history in which children as young as nine years old participated.

It was estimated in 2017 that hundreds of Indonesians went to Syria or Iraq to fight for ISIL before returning to Indonesia.[8] The returning individuals are placed through a deradicalization program by the National Agency for Combating Terrorism, and are put on a watchlist for the agency and local governments alike.[9] Several terrorist attacks, such as the Thamrin attacks, were orchestrated by the returnees or local extremists who pledged alliance to ISIL.[10]

In 2016, PresidentJoko Widodo requested lawmakers to revise the country's anti-terrorism laws, which were published in 2003 and 2013. He questioned the law's effectiveness, with the government legally being unable to arrest perpetrators of the Thamrin attacks preemptively.[11] The revision encountered resistance, with critics remarking that the law would allow arbitrary arrests.[12] Later on, opposition arose from human rights groups due to the involvement of the Indonesian National Armed Forces in the bill, which would put the armed forces in a law enforcement role.[13] Regardless, the bill continued to press on although it was put on hold in late February 2018 as both the military involvement and the legal definition of terrorism came into debate.[14]

Between 8 and 10 May 2018, a standoff occurred at the Mobile Brigade Corps' headquarters in Depok, resulting in the deaths of five police officers. While the incident and hostage situation ended with the 155 rioters surrendering,[15] in the aftermath of the event police shot dead four individuals who were suspected terrorists allegedly travelling "to help the rioting prisoners".[16]Amaq News Agency claimed ISIL was responsible.[17]

The first attack occurred on 06:30 WIB (UTC+07:00) in front of the SMTB Church.[18] Eyewitnesses stated that the attack occurred shortly after the first mass. Survivors stated that the perpetrators immediately entered the church without taking the parking ticket first.[19] As people gathered in the hall, several people stated that they saw two people riding a motorcycle were being stopped by a security officer named Aloysius Bayu Rendra Wardhana[20] at the church's entrance. Shortly afterwards, the perpetrators detonated the bomb. The blast immediately killed a child and the security officer.[21]

The first attack was captured on camera.[22] In the first video, the perpetrators who were riding a motorcycle immediately entered the church without stopping. Immediately after that, they detonated the bomb. The second video showed the bombing from a front door near the entrance. At the time, people were walking out from the church and several others were entering the church as the first mass had finished. The perpetrators immediately detonated their devices as they were stopped by security. As the explosion happened, multiple people inside the church began to panic. Several people who lived nearby mistook the explosion as an earthquake. The church's windows were blown. However, the exterior suffered minimal damage. The building located in the entrance was destroyed. Authorities reported that 5 people and 2 perpetrators were killed in the first attack.[23]

The second attack occurred around 07:45 at the GKI, located on Diponegoro Street.[1] Eyewitnesses stated that the perpetrators was a woman wearing black veil and black niqāb. She was also carrying two bags. At the time of the incident, she was taking her two children, who were also wearing veils and niqābs.[24] Eyewitnesses stated that the woman was trying to enter the church when a security officer named Yesaya Bayang[25] suddenly blocked her. She then hugged the security officer and detonated the bomb. Not long after that, her children detonated their explosive devices. Explosions were heard as many as five times.[26] The security guard who tried to stop them was critically injured by the blast. No civilians were killed in the second attack however three perpetrators were killed.[27]

The third attack occurred at the GPPS, located on Arjuno Street on 07:53 WIB. At least two explosions were heard in the third attack, both were caused by the detonation of two explosive devices. The first explosion originated from a car. According to eyewitness, the driver of the car rammed the gate of the entrance and struck the parked vehicles in the church. At the time, people were going to drive their vehicles out from the church's parking lot.[28] The explosion destroyed 5 cars and 30 motorcycles. Two people were initially reported killed. Many were injured, several seriously. Another bomb exploded from the same car.[29] Two other bombs were discovered near the church. A bomb disposal unit was dispatched to defuse the bombs. According to them, two bombs were successfully detonated while the other two malfunctioned. Authorities later stated that 9 civilians and 1 perpetrator were killed in the third attack.[30]

Emergency services arrived approximately two minutes after the first attack. The East Java Regional Police stated that 27 are dead and 43 people were injured, several of them were in critical condition.[31] The police immediately cleared and cordoned the area.[32]

Around 20:00 WIB, a bomb exploded at the Wonocolo apartment complex in the nearby city of Sidoarjo.[33] The incident occurred when the police raided the apartment. Three adults in a single apartment room were killed, while three children occupying the same room survived. All of them were from the same family.[34] According to the regional police chief Inspector General Machfud Arifin, the victims of the blast might have been planning to conduct similar attacks as the one perpetrated at the churches, but the bomb(s) exploded prematurely.[35]

Nearby residents stated that they thought the explosion was caused by exploding liquid petroleum gas. Residents who lived in or nearby the apartment complex were evacuated from the vicinity. The police later added that residents were prohibited to return to their homes until further notice.[36] Police later cordoned the area for investigation and roads nearby were closed. Accounts from eyewitnesses revealed that there were two eleven-year-old children who were severely injured in the blast. They were immediately evacuated.[36] At least five explosions were heard.[37]

On 14 May, multiple suicide bombings occurred at the Surabaya Police headquarters (Mapolrestabes Surabaya) on 08:50 WIB. The East Java Regional Police stated that two bombers detonated their devices at the checkpoint of the police headquarters.[38] Police said ten people (four policemen and six civilians) were wounded. Four suicide bombers were killed.[3][39]

The attack, which occurred at the entrance of the police HQ, was captured on camera. The video showed a car entering the checkpoint when suddenly four people, who were riding two motorcycles, entered the area. The video revealed that the motorcycles were halted by a group of policemen. The perpetrators then suddenly detonated their explosive devices. In the video, one of the perpetrators was a woman.[40]

In the aftermath of the attack, a child aged eight, whom the police suspect was the perpetrators' daughter, was brought to the police station to attack, was found walking and screaming amidst the bodies. Police said she was in critical condition.[41]

Police immediately closed nearby roads. Businesses and shops were ordered to be close in the vicinity of the area. All kinds of service in the police HQ were temporarily terminated in response to the attack.[42]

As of 19 May 2018, 14 civilians and 13 suicide bombers were killed.[5] Among them are children aged 11 and 8, who were identified as Evan and Nathan, and two security officers who were trying to stop the perpetrators from entering the church. Aloysius Bayu Rendra Wardhana, a security volunteer[43] and Yesaya Bayang, a security officer, were regarded as heroes by locals for successfully stopping the perpetrators from entering SMTB and GKI Diponegoro respectively.[20][25]

Injured victims of the blasts were treated in 8 hospitals.[44] The local branch of the Indonesian Red Cross reported an upsurge in blood donations, with 600 people donating blood that day compared to the routine target of 400.[45]

Hours after the attacks, the Chief of the Indonesian National Police Tito Karnavian, stated in a news conference that Jamaah Ansharut Daulah, a local branch of the Islamic State, was the group who was responsible for perpetrating the attacks. The group was responsible for the previous church bombing in Samarinda in 2016 and was also blamed for a series of attacks against the Indonesian police in 2016 and 2017.[46]

He later added that based on eyewitness accounts, the attackers were probably from the same family. Multiple people claimed that prior to the attack, the woman and her two childrens, aged 12 and 9, in the second attack were dropped off from an SUV. According to him, the man who drove the SUV was her husband. He then drove the SUV and rammed it into the GPPS, where the third attack occurred. Their sons were the ones who drove the motorcycle in the first attack.[47]

According to official report, the perpetrators had just got back from "education" in Syria. The family, according to Tito, was among the 500 people who were monitored by the government.[48]

Australian counter-terrorism expert Professor Greg Barton of Deakin University stated that the perpetrators are 'self-contained', deliberately cut off every communication with the other members via digital communications to avoid detection from the police. According to him, this was similar to the November 2015 Paris attacks. He later added that the weak anti-terror law in Indonesia caused terrorists in Indonesia to travel to Iraq and Syria with ease, and that those who might have been involved with the Islamic State wouldn't be punished by the authorities. There was also considerable concern on the use of children in terror attacks.[49]

Indonesian National Police revealed that the attacks were directly ordered by ISIL as revenge for the imprisonment of Aman Abdurrahman, the leader of JAD and JAT in Indonesia.[50] Abdurrahman should have been released from jail on August 2017, but he was arrested again by the police as he was alleged to have supplied weapons and funds for the terrorists who executed the 2016 Jakarta attacks. He was in prison at the time for his role in conducting training for terrorists in Aceh.[50]

In response to his imprisonment, the leadership in JAD was handed to Zainal Anshori. However, Anshori was immediately arrested after authorities stated that he was involved in weapon smuggling in Southern Philippines. This reportedly infuriated the members of the JAD and JAT. In response, the members of the JAD and the JAT started to attack civilians and police officers. The first major attack was the 2018 Mako Brimob standoff, days before the Surabaya bombings.[51]

Hours after the incident in Wonocolo, Indonesian police raided a house in Masanganwetan, Sukodono, Sidoarjo. During the raid, a shootout erupted between a suspected terrorist and the police.[52] The terrorist was later shot and killed. He was identified as Budi Satrio. Two men and two women were found on the site and were arrested. The police stated that pipe bombs were found on the site. Several ambulances were dispatched to the area.[53][54] Three other suspects were arrested in Surabaya, with the police officials claiming that the suspects had planned for further attacks although the locations were not disclosed. In total, the raids in Sidoarjo and Surabaya killed 2 suspects and arrested 7.[55]

Widespread raids and arrests were done by Detachment 88 in Bekasi,[56]Sukabumi,[57]Palembang,[58]Tangerang[59] and Cianjur. In the Cianjur raid, four suspected terrorists were killed after a shootout in a bus terminal. They had carried explosive, bomb-tipped arrows and allegedly planned to attack the Brimob headquarters.[60] According to the police, as many as eight raids were conducted throughout Indonesia. They added that 2 terrorists were killed due to resisting arrest.[61]

On 15 May, 2 days after the initial bombings, a shootout occurred between Detachment 88 personnel and a group suspected to be affiliated with the bombers in the Manukan Kulon kelurahan (administrative village) in Surabaya.[62] A man around the age of 40 who was part of the group was killed.[63] In a raid in Tanjung Balai Asahan, North Sumatra, at least 2 people were shot by the police and were later arrested.[64] Three residents of Malang were also arrested.[65]

On 16 May, another shootout occurred at a house in Kuciran Indah, Tangerang. Another house was raided by the police. 3 people were arrested. The Indonesian police revealed that they were members of the Jakarta JAD.[66] Several people were arrested in East Java, Central Java, West Java and Banten. Another 2 people were arrested in Sidoarjo.[67] An anti-terror operation was also carried out in Probolinggo in a small "executive" musalla. Airguns, documents and electronics were recovered from the area. Three people were arrested in the raid. [68] The police announced that they had arrested 33 suspected terrorists across Indonesia. They added that ISIL flags, documents and multiple bombs were also recovered from the nationwide anti-terror operations.[69]

On the same day, the police defused 31 pipe bombs.[70] The police stated that the total bombs that were recovered are as many as one truck.[71]

In Surabaya, the East Java Regional Police asked for cancellation of all Sunday services for the day in response to the attacks.[72] The Jakarta Metropolitan Police raised Jakarta's terror alert level to the highest level (Level 1), effective from 13 May 2018 at 08:00 local time.[73] The province of Central Java, Yogyakarta and Riau Islands later followed Jakarta's action to raise the terror threat level in their provinces,[74] and the status was set to a national level by the Indonesian National Police. The police spokesman noted that the status was an internal one for police officers and that civilians should go about normally.[75] Police official stated that Jakarta would remain on that level for an indefinite time. As many as 8,000 police personnel were dispatched in Makassar, South Sulawesi to guard churches and vital objects across the city. Police in Malang stated that roughly as many as 250 personnel would be dispatched across Malang to protect the city's churches.[76] The Jakarta Metropolitan Police later lowered the status on 15 May 2018.[77]

Police officers were deployed to the crime scenes to investigate and safeguard the areas, including members of Mobile Brigade Corps (Brimob) and the bomb squad. The police said that evacuation of victims was their primary focus.[81] The bombings also prompted the Surabaya administration to cancel the Rujak Uleg Festival on Kembang Jepun Street, slated to be opened by Mayor of Surabaya Tri Rismaharini at noon, to commemorate the city’s 725th anniversary.[82] In response to the attacks on 13 May, schools across Surabaya were closed on 14 May. Mayor of Surabaya Tri Rismaharini later added that the period would be extended due to security concern.[83]

In response to the bombings, the Chief of the Indonesian National Police Tito Karnavian stated that this is the time for the revision of the anti-terror bill, later urged the members of the Indonesian House of Representatives to revise the anti-terrorism bill, which was viewed as a weak bill by many. According to Tito, terrorists easily evaded arrests due to the bill. Police couldn't arrest and prevent terror attacks due to the absence of a strong terror bill. The police technically couldn't arrest the terror suspects if the terror attack had not been executed.[84]

Many experts supported and urged the governments to revise the anti-terror bill. Political expert from the Indonesian Political Analysis Institute Maksimus Ramses urged the government to form a special committee for the revision. If the anti-terror bill was revised by the government, the group who was responsible behind the attack Jamaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD) could be listed by the government as a terror group and terror attacks could be quickly prevented.[85]

The terror threat throughout Indonesia was raised to its highest level. In response to the emergency, Indonesian Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi ordered the security in every airports and seaports in Indonesia to be heightened to the maximum.[86]

The church bombers were identified by the police as a family of six, headed by Dita Uprianto, the father and Puji Kuswati, the mother. They also involved their children, Yusuf Fadil (aged 18), Firman Halim (aged 16), Fadilah Sari (aged 12) and Pamela Rizkita (aged 9).[24] Puji became the first female suicide bomber in Indonesia.[90] Dita was responsible for the third attack where he drove his SUV with highly explosive material to the GPPS. According to the police, the explosion in the third attack was the most powerful. The police stated that the woman was a resident of Banyuwangi, a city located approximately 306 kilometres (190 mi) southeast of Surabaya.[91]

The Indonesian National Police announced that 3 types of bombs were used in the church attacks. According to them, the bomb in the third attack was the most explosive type and the most destructive, powerful enough to destroy dozens of vehicles and set fire to the front portion of the church.[92] The first attack was carried out using motorcycle bomb, the second was using belt bombs, and the third was using a car bomb. The bombs in the second attack were strapped on the three perpetrators, Puji and her 12 and 9 year old daughters. This was evidenced by the examination of their bodies where a specific area (their stomachs area) were torn apart due to the force of the blast. Investigators are still trying to determine the type of bombs that were used in the first attack.[93]

On the night of 13 May, a house in Wonorejo Asri in Rungkut, Surabaya was stormed by the police. They discovered 3 highly explosive bombs from the house, which were later defused by bomb disposal unit.[94] Arrows and a bow were discovered on the back of the house. The police also recovered several books and documents from the house for investigation purposes.[95] Indonesian National Police revealed that Dita Uprianto was the leader of the Surabaya branch of Jamaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD).[51]

The East Java Regional Police identified the victims of the fourth bombing as members of a terrorist group that were planning to execute additional terror attacks on churches. All of them are from the same family. The deceased family members are Anton Febryanto, the father and Puspita Sari, the mother. They involved their own children, Rita Aulia Rahman (aged 17) and Ainur Rahman (aged 15), Faizah Putri (aged 11), and Garida Huda Akbar (aged 10). The latter three survived.[96] According to the police, the father was shot and killed by police officers. The explosion happened first. When the police reached the room, Anton threatened to push the trigger.[97]

Indonesian National Police revealed that Anton's family had close ties with Dita Uprianto, the leader of the Surabaya branch of the Jamaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD). Anton also belonged to Jamaah Ansharut Tauhid (JAT).[51]

Authorities confirmed the identities of the Surabaya Police HQ attackers using the family certificate carried by the bombers.[98] They were all from the same family. The father was identified as Tri Murtono (50), the mother was identified as Tri Ernawati (43). They also involved their own two sons, Mohammad Dari Satri (aged 16) and Mohammad Dafa Amin (aged 14). The last one was only identified as Ais, an 8 year old girl who survived the blasts. She was seated in the front of her parents when the explosion happened.[99][40][100]

The Communion of Churches in Indonesia (Persekutuan Gereja-gereja di Indonesia, PGI) and the Bishops' Conference of Indonesia (Konferensi Waligereja Indonesia, KWI) released statements expressing their condolences and requesting political elites to not utilize the incident for political gain.[101] The Indonesian Christian Students' Movement (Gerakan Mahasiswa Kristen Indonesia) called for President Widodo to evaluate the state's security apparatus.[102]

Multiple Muslim clerics, Indonesian political and public figures condemned the attack. Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) general chairman Said Aqil Siradj condemned the attack, remarking that "Islam condemns any form of violence. There is not a single religion in the world that justifies violence as a way of life." Nahdlatul Ulama also requested people to report on actions that may lead to radicalism or terrorism.[103]Ansor Youth Movement, a non-profit Islamic youth organization operating under the NU, strongly condemned the attacks as a vile, vicious attacks against humanity, especially in a place of worship. The organization general chairman Yaqut Cholil Qoumas urged law enforcement officers to tackle the threat of radicalization in social media.[104]

The Indonesian Ulema Council denounced the attack, stating that the Quran clearly stated that the act of murdering innocents is a serious sin. They later urged the government to tackle Islamic radicalism in Indonesia to prevent such terror attacks.[105] Muhammadiyah condemned the attacks, adding that suicide bombings and killing of innocent people is not jihad. The Surabaya branch of Muhammadiyah dispatched personnel to help the treatment of the victims.[106]

President Widodo flew to Surabaya, visiting the bombed churches and the hospitalized victims. Condemning the attacks as "barbaric acts", he strongly condemned the perpetrators particularly for their use of under-aged children as suicide bombers.[107] Expressing condolences for the victims, he stated that the bombings were "a crime against humanity, unrelated with any religion", adding that he had ordered police chief Tito Karnavian to "unravel the bombers' network to its roots".[108] He guaranteed that the government will cover the medical expenses of all the victims.[109] He also stated that he will issue Government regulation in lieu of law (Perpu) if the lawmakers are unable to finalize the revision of anti-terrorism laws by June 2018.[110] The Indonesian Ministry of Health confirmed President's statement that all hospital bills of the victims of the attacks will be paid by the government.[111] Former Indonesian National Armed Forces commander Gatot Nurmantyo also denounced the attacks, stating that the perpetrators were trying to stain the image of Islam.[112]

One of the most controversial religious figures in Indonesia, Bachtiar Nasir, a prominent member of the GNPF who had pushed for the imprisonment of the Christian–Chinese Governor of JakartaBasuki Tjahaja Purnama, also condemned the attacks. He stated that Allah will condemn and punish them severely and offered his condolences to the victims of the attacks.[113]

Political figures blamed Islamic radicalism as the cause of the attacks. The Indonesian House of Representatives stated that the government needs to do a "jihad" against terrorism. Masinton Pasaribu, a representative from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI–P), stated that the attacks were an inhuman action and an extraordinary crime and the perpetrators should be severely punished.[114] The Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), an Indonesian Islamic party, also condemned the attack and regarded the attack as highly anarchist.[114] Party president Sohibul Iman, stated that all terror attacks are highly despicable, especially in places of worship. Spokesman from Golkar, the second largest party in Indonesia, stated that the attacks were nothing but a cowardice act from several irresponsible people who stained their own religion.[114]

Prominent opposition party figure Fadli Zon also commented on the attacks. However, despite this, he was jeered and heavily criticized by the public as his criticism was viewed by many as an attack to the sitting President.[115] Politicians from his party, Gerindra, joined the condemnation, without attacking the government. Gerindra chairman Prabowo Subianto expressed condolences for the attacks, asking the Indonesian people to maintain unity.[116] While campaigning for the Central Java gubernatorial election in Banyumas, he instructed Gerindra cadres to protect places of worship.[117] Spokesman from Indonesia's Democratic Party, Didi Iriawan, shared the same message. He stated that the attack was unacceptable and called for severe punishment to the perpetrators.[114]

Surabaya Mayor Tri Rismaharini visited the relatives of the victims of the attacks on 14 May

Several vigils were held across Indonesia. Approximately 1,000 people participated in a vigil in Tugu Pahlawan in Surabaya where participants lit candles for the victims of the attacks. Vigils were also held in Bandung, Blitar, and Solo.[118] There was a free distribution of prosthetic from volunteer groups for the survivors of the attacks.[119]

The U.S. government condemned the attacks and later urged Americans to be aware of the security conditions in Indonesia,[120] stating that they were ready to assist the Indonesian government in investigating the attacks.[121] The U.K. government issued a travel advice for British nationals who were planning to visit Indonesia in response to the bombings.[122] Australia issued similar travel advice for Australians in Indonesia.[123] The Government of Hong Kong issued similar travel advice, stating that "Residents intending to visit the country or are already there should monitor the situation, exercise caution, attend to personal safety and avoid protests and large gatherings of people."[124] The Irish and Chinese governments also issued travel advice for their citizens.[125]

Facebook immediately activated its safety check after the attacks.[137] Social media was flooded with Indonesians who voiced their condolences, prayers, frustration, and anger in response to the attacks. The hashtags #PrayForSurabaya, #BersatuLawanTeroris (English: #UnitedAgainstTerrorists), and #KamiTidakTakut (English: #WeAreNotAfraid) immediately went viral on Twitter.[138] In the aftermath of the attacks, hundreds of social media accounts were blocked by Google, Facebook and Twitter. Telegram also blocked 280 accounts.[139]

Indonesian National Police advised people not to share the graphic photos of the victims and the perpetrators of the attacks.[140] The Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI) also advised news stations not to broadcast photos of dead bodies or other graphic materials on television. Several TV stations cancelled their TV programs in response to the bombings. This announcement was stated on air.[141]

In the wake of the attacks, many people began to accuse the police and the government that the attack was a false flag, which resulted in numerous accounts being reported to the police. A woman named Fitri Septiani Alhinduan was arrested on 14 May 2018 in Sukadana, West Kalimantan for her viral Facebook post accusing the government of having conducted the bombings as a false flag.[142] She is a state junior high school (Sekolah Menengah Pertama Negeri, SMPN) headmaster.[143] On the same day, a representative of a group named 212 Guard (Garda 212) Ansufri Idrus Sambo also said that the bombings were false flag made to suppress those who were against the sitting government and demanding new president. The group itself was notorious for pushing the imprisonment of the Christian–Chinese Governor of JakartaBasuki Tjahaja Purnama, hence their namesake which refers to the December 2016 Jakarta protests.[144] He also said that the terrorists were innocent and should not be blamed for the bombings.[145] The next day, another civil servant named Bukhari bin Syama'un was arrested in Lhokseumawe, Aceh for hate speech related to the attacks.[146] On 20 May 2018, a lecturer in a state-owned university named Himma Dewiyana Lubis was arrested for saying the same as the aforementioned headmaster.[147] Many politicians, Mohammad Mahfud for instance, condemned those who supported the false flag theory, stating that those people are psychopathic and basically are no different than the terrorists.[148][149]

Hoaxes of bombs being detonated in other locations also spread through the internet. A man was arrested in Duren Sawit subdistrict of Jakarta for creating a post on Facebook saying a church there was attacked as well. He claimed to have intended it as a prank.[150]

On 16 May 2018, a group of men attacked the Riau Regional Police headquarters in Pekanbaru, Riau. The attack started when an SUV rammed into the police station and struck people and vehicles, including two journalists from tvOne and MNCTV. Police said masked men carrying katanas attacked and hacked several people in the station. All but one of the attackers were shot dead. One police officer was killed. Two police officers and two journalists were injured.[151] In the immediate aftermath of the attack, the street where the police HQ located was closed for indefinite time. Bomb disposal unit was called to the area as "cables and stuffs" were found inside the SUV.[152]

One of the attacker who escaped from the site was arrested by the police. The four attackers who died were identified as Mursalim (42), Suwardi (28), Adi Sufiyan (26) and Daud.[153] All of them were residents of Dumai. Hours after the attack, raids were carried out across Dumai, which was located around 178 kilometres (111 mi) north of the capital of Pekanbaru.[154] Airguns and "electronics" were recovered from the sites. They added that the attackers were members of the Islamic State of Indonesia, which affiliates with the Dumai branch of ISIL.[153]